D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,194 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Tue May 15, 2012, 10:07pm Subject: Re: Modifying my Saeco Via Venezia (OPV, pressure gauge, depressurized PF, etc)
I've not used that valve nor held in im my hand. It has threads, so, if I were to need one, I would get it and then try to find the proper fittings, or post to the guys with Isomac. I think Isomac is its primary use, or perhaps someone from Chris Coffee can tell you the threads. With the fittings, it should be a cut line from a pump and splice in.
Posted Wed May 16, 2012, 5:16am Subject: Re: Modifying my Saeco Via Venezia (OPV, pressure gauge, depressurized PF, etc)
Frank, if the pump is indeed adjustable that would be great, but the bad thing is that it looks like it would be a hit-or-miss procedure since you wouldn't know the results of your adjustment until after reassembling the pump and giving it a test. It may take several procedures to get the pressure in the ballpark, but it would probably be worth it in the long run. Let me know which way you need to adjust the plunger to lower the pressure and how large of an adjustment you have to make to get the group pressure to around 9 bar.
Posted Sat May 19, 2012, 11:48am Subject: Re: Modifying my Saeco Via Venezia (OPV, pressure gauge, depressurized PF, etc)
i made a bit of progress on the pressure gauge. unfortunately i think this will only apply for the barista and via venezia models. Though, you should be able to do something similar with different size fittings.
so, the steam wand is connected to the machine via a nut. I removed the steam wand and the nut and connected the 1/4" hose through a 3/8" FNPT x 1/4" barb adapter(actually had to get a female coupler to switch the male fitting to female). I thought that the machine would use BSP threads but the NPT seems to fit fine.
Unfortunately i havent been able to use the gauge yet because Lowe's doesnt carry any hose clamps that fit a 1/4"(or smaller) tube. When i hook it up, i'm getting pretty bad leakage at the hose without any clamps. I'll head to home depot or an auto parts store tonight to get smaller hose clamps.
Posted Wed May 23, 2012, 2:30pm Subject: Re: Modifying my Saeco Via Venezia (OPV, pressure gauge, depressurized PF, etc)
more pressure gauge struggle.
so i decided to eliminate the use of the tubing for the gauge. there was too much swelling and it concerned me.
i decided to use all solid brass fittings and connected it to the male threaded section where the steam wand threads into.
it works somewhat but the problem is that there is leakage at the connection from the fitting to the machine or somewhere above it.
when i try to pull a shot with the gauge in place, i will get water dripping out of the connection and around the grouphead. It seems to be reading the gauge fairly stably but i end up with water going into my shot glass.
so at this point, im thinking i may need the british threading to connect the gauge to the machine(i was using NPT). im getting kinda frustrated with all the purchases and lack of results. i may put this on hold for a while and just focus on getting better results in the cup.
Posted Wed May 23, 2012, 2:45pm Subject: Re: Modifying my Saeco Via Venezia (OPV, pressure gauge, depressurized PF, etc)
Maybe down the road you can put together a portafilter pressure gauge. I got my lamp dimmer but I'm going to wait on that little project. I just ground my coffee a little finer and slowed down the pull. I might use the dimmer on my new old Gaggia Classic for low pressure backflushes. I may not even need it there... I'll know more when the machine gets here. Catch you later...
Once you measure a pressure and set it the gauge is not needed anyway. I used a gauge on the PF to set the OPV and have not checked since. I can easily hook it up if I get curious or have a problem that I think could be pressure related. I love technology and d-i-y, but in the end it is about brewing and the cup, more me than the technology.
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